Old Missouri Beer Quart

Chicago's Rare Old Missouri Quart

The Old Missouri Beer quart cone top is a prominent piece of mid-century Midwestern brewing history, marketed under the Old Missouri Sales Co. name in Chicago, Illinois. Historical brewery records link Old Missouri Sales directly to Chicago's Prima Brewing Company, which operated out of South Union Avenue in the post-Prohibition era and frequently utilized alternate trade designations for specialized distribution routes.

Historical Context & Collectibility

During the peak era of quart packaging, breweries introduced 32-ounce cans primarily for family sharing, picnics, and tavern carry-out. Chicago was one of the nation's most competitive brewing hubs, home to dozens of active facilities and countless proprietary brand labels. Because quart containers were produced in significantly smaller quantities than standard 12-ounce counterparts, surviving quart-sized cans from regional operations are substantially harder to locate today.

The Old Missouri quart stands out among collectors as one of the scarcer Chicago-area cone tops. Its bold branding, coupled with the relatively brief existence of the associated brewing entity, has made it a prized centerpiece for regional specialists and large-format can enthusiasts alike.